Title: The Talosite

Author: Rebecca Campbell

Release date: October 4th, 2022

You know what always blows me away/freaks me out? When you read as much as I do, I have three books usually on the go – a pleasure read, a TBR read (my TBR is ordered for my OCD reading brain) and a review book. Well, what freaks me out is when those three somehow miraculously line up and share very similar narratives/aspects/story lines. Case in point. I just finished reading ‘Dark Days’ by D. Randall Blythe, where he shares his experience being incarcerated in an old prison in the Czech Republic. At the same time, I started reading ‘Left to You’ by Daniel Volpe, which focuses on something occurring in a Nazi Prison Camp. And here I was, diving into Rebecca Campbell’s masterful novella ‘The Talosite,’ which is set in an alternative history during World War I. Three random books, plucked from my Kindle shelves that line up. 

Anyways, let’s move away from the freaky aspect and talk about the freakiness within. I’m a bit ashamed to say – I’ve heard of fellow Canuck, Rebecca Campbell, but had not read any of her work leading into this. I had kind of had my fingers crossed I would’ve somehow gotten a hold of a digital ARC of this novella from Undertow, but alas, didn’t make the list. No worries – look at the cover, look at the synopsis and – considering two of my favorite novellas ever are from Undertow (looking at you Armageddon House and Helpmeet) – I bought this one and watched it rise up my TBR until reaching the top.

This one is almost a spiritual sibling to Helpmeet, in the sense of the dark, brooding, thing’s done in the shadows narrative and the body horror that is done so very, very well. But it’s Undertow – what else would you expect.

What I liked: The story follows Anne, daughter of a famous physician who has worked diligently to find a way to resurrect the dead and use them in the war to defeat the Nazi’s. At first. That is stage one. Ultimately, the resurrected would become part of modern society, working the menial jobs many don’t want to work as well as the harder, dirtier jobs. Think coal mines etc.

Campbell writes like how you might imagine Shelley writing Frankenstein. Smile on her face with maniacal laugh happening at the end of every third or fourth paragraph after she’s reread the absolute brutality she’s envisioned and brought to life. (I don’t actually know this, but the way the words flow from the page and paint a picture in your mind, it’s safe to say it was possible.) 

We also get to see how things are occurring in the world around Anne through her partner (though not an official boyfriend or fiancée, but more like a really good friend with benefits), Ned. Ned can’t believe the levels of derangement Anne is going to and it makes for some emotional moments, especially near the end and as things come to light.

I was really intrigued with where Campbell would take the ‘experiments’ and I have to say, the last quarter was fantastic and really creepy, to see just where Anne decided to go and where her mind followed.

What I didn’t like: There is a significant amount of ambiguity near the ending. I know it’s purposeful and I personally usually love ambiguous endings, but for this particular novella I was hoping for more definitive closure.

Why you should buy this: I mean, look at the cover. If that doesn’t make your mind think of ‘In the Hills, the Cities’ by Barker and get you excited, I don’t know what will. Then, look at the synopsis. Look at the publisher. And understand that this novella packs an entire historical re-imagining within its sleek 100 pages, where not a word is spared and where not a single breath from the reader is allowed. Just another phenomenal piece of dark fiction and I’m so happy to have read this one.

5/5